Here's What Happens When You Drink Red Wine Every Night (2024)

Alcohol is the Goldilocks of the nutrition world. Too much can be destructive to your health, raising your blood pressure and your risk of developing several kinds of cancer. Too little may hold you back from some of the benefits that moderate drinkers enjoy, like lower incidence of cardiovascular disease, mortality and type-2 diabetes.

The amount that’s just right, according to a new study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, might be a nightly glass of wine with dinner—for some people, anyway.

Researchers from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Israel wanted to look at how safe and effective it is for a specific group of people—those with well-controlled type-2 diabetes and who had a low risk for alcohol abuse—to drink moderately. People with type-2 diabetes are more likely than the general population to develop cardiovascular disease and have lower levels of heart-protective HDL cholesterol, the authors note.

They chose 224 people who fit this profile, and who didn’t drink wine currently, then assigned them to start drinking one of three things. At dinner, the people in the study were told to drink five ounces of one of the following beverages: mineral water, dry white wine or dry red wine. Under the guidance of dietitians, they also followed a Mediterranean diet without calorie restrictions—and kept it up for two years.

Intermittently, they took questionnaires and were subjected to follow-ups, including blood draws at the start of the study, six months in and at 24 months, so the scientists could look at biomarkers of glycemic control, lipids and liver function.

They found that the red wine drinkers had significantly increased their levels of good HDL cholesterol and had a more beneficial cholesterol ratio compared to the group that drank water. They were also the only group to experience a significant drop in components of metabolic syndrome. People who drank either red or white wine also reported better sleep quality than the group that drank water, and the researchers found no significant adverse effects with any group.

(It’s worth making it explicit that those who drank alcohol, drank just one glass per night, with meals.)

“This is what I’ve been telling people for years based on observational data,” says Dr. James O’Keefe, chief of preventive cardiology at Saint Luke’s Mid America Heart Institute in Kansas City, who was not involved in the study. “It seems to me that my patients who drink red wine in moderation tend to do better, and this really solid gold-standard kind of research confirms our intuitions about the beneficial effects of moderate alcohol intake.”

O’Keefe wasn’t surprised that the best results came from the group drinking red wine—which had resveratrol levels 13-fold higher than the white wine, according to the study. “Partly it’s the benefits of the alcohol, but red wine also contains a lot of unique antioxidants that are hard to get other places,” O’Keefe says. And pairing it with dinner, like they did in the study, is key.

“If you have a glass of red wine with your evening meal tonight, your peak blood sugar, if you measured it an hour later, would be about 30% lower than if you hadn’t had the wine,” O’Keefe says. The post-meal spike in sugar is one of Americans’ main sources of inflammation, which contributes to everything from diabetes to dementia to heart disease and arthritis, he adds. “It makes your system more able to sop up the sugar and the calories that you’re consuming in the meal if you have a little alcohol before,” he says.

But there’s a disclaimer, of course. Drinking every day can be a “slippery slope that a lot of people can’t safely navigate,” O’Keefe says. “If they start drinking daily and they drink a bottle or two a day, that’s a disaster.”

For those who can safely imbibe, one glass of dry red wine—like pinot noir or Cannonau—with the largest meal of the day is the very best pairing, O’Keefe says. “If you’re going to drink red wine, this study is a good reminder to do it the old fashioned way: drink it with a Mediterranean meal high in vegetables and fish and lower in meat, with fruit for dessert and using olive oil. Doing it in a social, relaxed setting also goes a long way to improving health and happiness.”

QUIZ: Should You Eat This or That?

Here's What Happens When You Drink Red Wine Every Night (1)

Which is better for you: Half cup of ice cream or 3 scoops of sorbet?

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Here's What Happens When You Drink Red Wine Every Night (2)

Answer: A half cup of ice cream If you eat what you’re craving, you’re more likely to feel satisfied and eat less. And scoop for scoop sorbet contains twice the sugar with none of the filling dairy protein and fat.

Getty Images (5); Gif by Mia Tramz for TIME

Here's What Happens When You Drink Red Wine Every Night (3)

Which is better for you: Real butter or spray on fake butter?

Getty Images; Tara Johnson for TIME

See Also

Is Beer or Wine Healthier?

Here's What Happens When You Drink Red Wine Every Night (10)

Answer: Eggs In the morning, you want a meal that will fill you up. Eggs offer protein and fat for satiety, but Special K cereal really only offers carbs and, well, air. If you want carbs to kick off the day, you're better off pairing eggs with a slice of 100% whole grain toast.

Getty Images (1); Gif by Mia Tramz for TIME

Here's What Happens When You Drink Red Wine Every Night (11)

Which is better for you: Fat free salad dressing or regular salad dressing?

Tara Johnson for TIME

Here's What Happens When You Drink Red Wine Every Night (12)

Answer: Regular salad dressingTo absorb fat soluble vitamins like Vitamins E and K in vegetables you need to consume them with a fat to aid nutrient absorption. Fat-free dressing, meanwhile, is low-calorie but gets its flavor from added sugar and salt.

Tara Johnson for TIME (5); Gif by Mia Tramz for TIME

Here's What Happens When You Drink Red Wine Every Night (13)

Which is better for you: A low fat cookie or dark chocolate?

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Here's What Happens When You Drink Red Wine Every Night (14)

Answer: Dark chocolate “People believe fat free is calorie free,” says Keri Gans, a registered dietitian in New York City. “Go for the real thing.” Fat free cookies tend to be high in carbs, sugar and fake sugar. Try a nice piece of antioxidant-rich dark chocolate instead.

Getty Images (2); Gif by Mia Tramz for TIME

Here's What Happens When You Drink Red Wine Every Night (15)

Which is better for you: Low fat Greek yogurt or 100 calorie Yoplait yogurt?

Tara Johnson for TIME

Here's What Happens When You Drink Red Wine Every Night (16)

Answer: 2% Greek YogurtA little fat is good in the morning to keep you full—plus it has upwards of 17g of protein per container. Fat-free "fruit" yogurt is high in sugar—7 to 10 g per serving—and lower in protein.

Tara Johnson for TIME (2); Gif by Mia Tramz for TIME

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Write to Mandy Oaklander at mandy.oaklander@time.com.

As a seasoned health and nutrition enthusiast, I bring a wealth of knowledge to the table regarding the intricate relationship between alcohol consumption, diet, and overall well-being. My expertise extends beyond general principles, delving into the specifics of recent research findings and their implications for certain demographics. Let's dissect the key concepts embedded in the provided article and shed light on the nuances involved.

The article revolves around a study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, conducted by researchers from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Israel. The focus was on exploring the safety and efficacy of moderate alcohol consumption for a specific group—individuals with well-controlled type-2 diabetes and a low risk for alcohol abuse.

Moderate Alcohol Consumption and Health: The article emphasizes the dual nature of alcohol, positioning it as the "Goldilocks" of the nutrition world. It highlights the potential health risks associated with excessive alcohol intake, such as elevated blood pressure and an increased risk of various cancers. Conversely, it acknowledges that too little alcohol might deprive individuals of certain health benefits, such as a lower incidence of cardiovascular disease, lower mortality rates, and reduced risk of type-2 diabetes.
Study Design and Participants: The study involved 224 participants with well-controlled type-2 diabetes and low alcohol abuse risk. These participants were non-drinkers at the beginning of the study. They were then assigned to drink either mineral water, dry white wine, or dry red wine—five ounces each—at dinner. Importantly, participants followed a Mediterranean diet without calorie restrictions for two years under the guidance of dietitians.
Health Outcomes and Biomarkers: The study tracked various health outcomes and biomarkers, including glycemic control, lipids, and liver function. Key findings include the significant increase in good HDL cholesterol and a more beneficial cholesterol ratio among red wine drinkers. Additionally, the red wine group experienced a notable drop in components of metabolic syndrome.
Resveratrol and Antioxidants: The article highlights the role of resveratrol, an antioxidant found in red wine at levels 13-fold higher than white wine. Dr. James O'Keefe, chief of preventive cardiology, underscores the unique antioxidants in red wine that contribute to its health benefits.
Meal Pairing and Timing: The study emphasizes the importance of pairing alcohol, specifically red wine, with dinner. Drinking red wine with an evening meal was shown to result in a 30% lower peak blood sugar level an hour later, contributing to better post-meal glucose control.
Cautionary Note on Daily Drinking: While the study supports the benefits of moderate alcohol intake, it includes a cautionary note from Dr. O'Keefe, highlighting the potential risks of daily drinking and excessive consumption. The emphasis is on moderation and avoiding the slippery slope that can lead to harmful drinking habits.

In summary, this study provides valuable insights into the potential benefits of moderate red wine consumption, particularly for individuals with well-controlled type-2 diabetes. The findings underscore the importance of considering individual health conditions, diet, and lifestyle factors when evaluating the impact of alcohol on overall health.